Everything.. Norwegian Aqua / Prima class #3

[kenns]

With today's news about a pier at GSC and 8 new ships (4 for NCL, 2 for Oceania, 2 for Regent), I am hopeful they're going to release more details on the Aqua very soon. 

Edited April 8 by kenns

[Nathan Graveson]

🚨NEW SHIPS: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Announces Record Cruise Ship Order For Its Three Cruise Brands

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) and Fincantieri announce agreement for eight cruise ships to be delivered to NCL, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas.

Four of these will be destined for Norwegian Cruise Line and delivered between 2030 and 2036 and will have capacity for up to 5,000 passengers and inaugurate a new class of NCL ships.

Two will be delivered to Oceania Cruises between 2027 and 2029 and will be derived from the Allura Class ships, and finally two will be delivered to Regent Seven Seas in 2026 and 2029 and will surpass the Explorer Class ships in luxury.

Additionally, NCLH hopes to build a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay, its private destination in the Bahamas, to accommodate its new ships.

The order is still in the financing process and should be confirmed soon, the ships are also in the design phase and may be cancelled or new orders being added.

 

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Press Release - 

2024-04-08_Norwegian_Cruise_Line_Holdings_Unveils_Bold_New_590.pdf

Edited April 9 by Nathan Graveson

[david_sobe]

12 hours ago, kenns said:

With today's news about a pier at GSC and 8 new ships (4 for NCL, 2 for Oceania, 2 for Regent), I am hopeful they're going to release more details on the Aqua very soon. 

Its about time NCL built a pier at GSC. I am on Aqua in Feb 2026 and I hope the pier is finished by then.  Construction is always delayed and this year is supposed to be a brutal hurricane season so I will be surprised its finished by then.  But it would be fantastic if it is.

[macewank]

As someone who's had GSC canceled due to weather twice, I'm very excited for the pier to finally be built. Feels like it took forever for the Bahamian govt to approve the plan (since it requires dredging out some reef)

[JIMESOPUS]

Another hit on the search engine - Aqua in the background, taken from the Queen Anne which just left the shipyard for sea trials. Looks like Fincantieri had a family day on the final build day for the workers.

[FreestyleNovice]

On 3/31/2024 at 6:53 PM, david_sobe said:

Someone posted here awhile ago that during a Latitudes party and NCL promoting the ship, NCL staff said that Cruise Critic members knew more about the ship than they did.  If you were around for Encore, it was Cruise Critic that alerted NCL to the "wonky C."

 

We sure had some good fun with previous builds, I like the idea of NCL executives spitting their morning coffee over their desks when scrolling through their bookmarked CC threads finding out about such things heheh! 

 

A big help was the Meyer Werft webcam and social media from their visitor gallery, that helped a lot with puzzling out to be announced areas. Unfortunately Fincantieri is less easy to follow and more and more fellow cruisers and even influencers are learning the tricks of sleuthing! Times are changing.. 

[FreestyleNovice]

1 hour ago, JIMESOPUS said:

Looks like Fincantieri had a family day on the final build day for the workers.

 

 

Found this guy sharing his photos with shoe covers, I guess he liked the Aqua more!

 

Close up of one of his photos, the hull art is coming on!

 

Originals:

 

[RMS Olympic]

When NCL decided to build this Prima class I was happy to think NCL was going for a more upscale product with 3000plus passengers. Perhaps targeting Celebrity and not going for the truly mega ships ala Carnival and RCI.

Well looks like the decision has been made to follow the pack with these 200k ton ships. 
With ports restricting the number of passengers into ports of call, I question the decision. Even the new Sun Princess is experiencing tendering issues in the Mediterranean and even dropped Santorini due to port congestion.

Me, the smaller the better but-to each his or her own😉

[Nathan Graveson]

Just a few weeks from float out!

[macewank]

Time to start smashing refresh on the entertainment stuff lol

[cruiseny4life]

Looks like a few new dining and imbibing options are coming to Aqua. 

 

- Thai (yes, please)

- Wine (meh)

- Vegan (grossssssssssss)

 

https://www.nclhltd.com/news-media/press-releases/detail/592/norwegian-cruise-line-unveils-all-new-culinary-experiences

[scottsquires12]

39 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Looks like a few new dining and imbibing options are coming to Aqua. 

 

- Thai (yes, please)

- Wine (meh)

- Vegan (grossssssssssss)

 

https://www.nclhltd.com/news-media/press-releases/detail/592/norwegian-cruise-line-unveils-all-new-culinary-experiences

I agree with Scooby doo and shaggy vegan yuck unless in New Orleans they do it right every where else yuck 

[david_sobe]

As long there is Cagneys, Onda, and Los Lobos, I'm happy! 😁

Throw in a few cookies and I'm ecstatic !

Edited April 16 by david_sobe

[Sand and Seas]

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Looks like a few new dining and imbibing options are coming to Aqua. 

 

- Thai (yes, please)

- Wine (meh)

- Vegan (grossssssssssss)

 

https://www.nclhltd.com/news-media/press-releases/detail/

Thai sounds  great. Thanks for sharing link. 

Also like the idea of expanding  Indulge to ten specialties.   Prima officer was telling us they are trying  to add more  Indulge  food halls but hard to fit on the older  ships.

[Two Wheels Only]

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Looks like a few new dining and imbibing options are coming to Aqua. 

 

- Thai (yes, please)

- Wine (meh)

- Vegan (grossssssssssss)

 

Thai will work IF the spice caliber is done correctly.

 

Wine will work IF the availability of selections is done correctly.

 

Vegan will be empty (like Margaritaville) and will eventually be removed and replaced with something else (like Margaritaville).

[macewank]

Thai could be awesome. I wouldn't be shocked to see a Chinese restaurant too based on some insider stuff I've heard about. 

[timf2001]

The Vegan restaurant is a stand in Indulge, not a full-service restaurant.  The Thai restaurant replaces Food Republic.  A few of the restaurants and bars have shuffled locations, but are largely the same as on Prima and Viva.

[macewank]

2 minutes ago, timf2001 said:

The Vegan restaurant is a stand in Indulge, not a full-service restaurant.  The Thai restaurant replaces Food Republic.  A few of the restaurants and bars have shuffled locations, but are largely the same as on Prima and Viva.

Oof. Not sure I like that. Food Republic is a great restaurant. 

[JIMESOPUS]

Updated deck plans, from a very good source the spot on deck #6 opposite the casino will be Syd's and the Improv will move across the hallway to where Syd's was on deck #7. The old Improv location is now shops.

https://www.ncl.com/cruise/aqua/accommodations/deck-plans

[RVACruiser43]

On 4/14/2024 at 11:21 AM, RMS Olympic said:

When NCL decided to build this Prima class I was happy to think NCL was going for a more upscale product with 3000plus passengers. Perhaps targeting Celebrity and not going for the truly mega ships ala Carnival and RCI.

Well looks like the decision has been made to follow the pack with these 200k ton ships. 
With ports restricting the number of passengers into ports of call, I question the decision. Even the new Sun Princess is experiencing tendering issues in the Mediterranean and even dropped Santorini due to port congestion.

Me, the smaller the better but-to each his or her own😉

I really question the sanity of the next class of ships too.  Figuring they will fill the next 12 years of deliveries, what if the Spirit/Sky/Sun/Dawn/Star needs replaced in that period.  Nothing is planned to fill the small ship cruises.  I also much prefer the smaller ships PofA exception.  My worst cruise ever was on Escape last April for the Latitude first annual cruise, 5200 on that ship is not my cup of tea.  I am on Escape now arriving in Lisbon today.  We have just under 4100 this cruise, and it still feels crowded.  Never had that feeling on the smaller ships when they were filled at double occupancy.

[macewank]

2 hours ago, JIMESOPUS said:

Updated deck plans, from a very good source the spot on deck #6 opposite the casino will be Syd's and the Improv will move across the hallway to where Syd's was on deck #7. The old Improv location is now shops.

https://www.ncl.com/cruise/aqua/accommodations/deck-plans

 

Improv becoming retail is a good call. That venue was worthless. Way too small. 

[Capitan Obvious]

6 hours ago, macewank said:

 

Improv becoming retail is a good call. That venue was worthless. Way too small. 

 

How big should it have been? What on the ship would everyone be willing to give up for 45 min of stand up once a day?

[scottsquires12]

31 minutes ago, Capitan Obvious said:

 

How big should it have been? What on the ship would everyone be willing to give up for 45 min of stand up once a day?

150 people not 45 like Sid’s place never guaranteed to go see show Sid place is the Starbucks size 

 

[macewank]

36 minutes ago, Capitan Obvious said:

 

How big should it have been? What on the ship would everyone be willing to give up for 45 min of stand up once a day?

Nothing. That's why I said it's a good change to put a store there instead..

 

Iirc, it held away less tess than 100 people. When I sailed the Prima they had already given up on it as a comedy club. Comedians were strictly in the theatre. 

Edited April 17 by macewank

[BrownEyedGirl686]

On 11/26/2023 at 12:51 PM, Two Wheels Only said:

 

I'm really not liking the location of those Duplex Suites...😔

If you don’t mind me asking why do you say this?   We have one booked.